Printing apparatus with retractable printing member



June 15, 1965 R. KELLY 3,188,950

PRINTING APPARATUS WITH RETRACTABLE PRINTING MEMBER Filed June22. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi .1. 9 5a 42 3 44 as I 52 4 f sa 40 as 2 6 J J -|2 I4 1 L k\\ I INVENTOR.

Y ROBERT KELLX AT TORNEX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. KELLY June 15, 1965' PRINTING APPARATUS WITH RETRACTABLE PRINTING MEMBER Filed June 22, 1962 O Fag. 2..

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,lh8,95d Patented June 15, 1965 3,188,950 'PRINTKNG APPARATUS WITH RETRACTABLE PRHNTENG MEMBER Robert Kelly, Clawson, Mich, assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed June 22, 1962, Ser. No. 204,406 9 Claims. (Cl. 101-4175) This invention relates generally to printing apparatus and particularly to a mechanism for settably positioning printing plates of the apparatus.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for the setting of radially movable print plates on a high speed rotary printer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of the above mentioned character in which the setting operation may be performed by the manipulation of an operating member externally of the printer.

In connection with the next preceding object, it is an object of the invention to provide mechanism by means of which a printing plate on a high speed rotatable print wheel may be conveniently retracted to an ineffective position without need of disassembling the mechanism or removing any part thereof.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a rotary printer embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the high speed printer shown includes a vertical driven shaft which is journalled for rotation in a support or gear housing 12 wherein a driven gear 14 is suitably affixed to the shaft to be driven by any suitable source of power. An upper end portion of the driven shaft 10 projects above the gear housing 12 and keyed as at 16,

to this end of the shaft there is a print wheel, designated generally by the numeral 17.

The print wheel 17 comprises, in general, a carrier or plate 38, a retainer or guide member 20, and a pair of print plates 22. As shown, the guide member 20 is mounted on and extends diametrically of the plate 18 and the pair of print plates are located between plate 18 and guide member 29. The guide member 2t) is generally channel shaped in cross section and the lower edges of the channel sides seat against the upper surface of the carrier plate 18, the channel member and plate 18 being rigidly secured together by screws 23, as shown in FIG. 3.

The print plates 22 are alike, each having an arcuate outer print head 24 and an integral leg or slide member 25, the latter of which are slidably guided in the channel guide member 20. Attached to the arcuate peripheries of the print plate head 24 are printing elements 26, and adjacent each of the heads 24 there is an additional print head 28 having print elements 30. Where the printer is used for endorsing checks, the print elements 26 may be provided for printing the name of a bank, or of a check clearing institution, and the print elements 3i) may be provided to print the date. Two sets of the print head 24 and 28 are provided and are arranged with respect to the average widths of checks to insure that a check will receive an imprint from one or the other of print elements 26 and one or the other of print elements 30 without need of timing the speed of the checks and so that the print wheel may operate continuously at high speed, as opposed to cyclically operable wheels.

The print plates 22 are slidably guided on the wheel 17 so that they can be set radially in the outer printing positions shown or be retracted inwardly to ineffective positions. The reason for making the print plates 22 settable is that banks sometimes desire to distinguish in their endorsements or checks drawn on their own bank and checks drawn on other banks. For example, checks drawn on their own bank would require no more than the printing of the date on the backs thereof, in which case the print plates 22, bearing the bank name, would be retracted. As shown, in FIG. 1, when the print plates 22 are in their effective or outer positions, they are adapted to engage a suitable inking roller 32. Also, a suitable pressure roller 34 is required for cooperation with the print element 26 to effect an imprint on checks.

Further in accordance with the invention, settable mechanism is provided for setting the print plates 22 in their outer effective positions and/or in their inner ineffective or retracted positions without need of disassembling any parts of the apparatus and without need of the use of a tool. To this end, I provide an adjustment member or vertical shaft 36 carrying cam means in the form of a pair of arcuate slots to receive cam follower pins 38 carried by the slide members 25 of the print plates 22. The shaft 36 is arranged vertically above the print wheel in axial alignment therewith and the lower end of the shaft extends through the guide member 29 into the wheel, the crank pins 38 being fixed to the printing plates 22 and projecting upwardly therefrom into the cam slots 40. The pins 33 are parallel to the axis of shaft 36 and'are offset therefrom and engaged in the arcuate cam slots 40 which are eccentric to the axis of shaft 36. The ends of slots 40 and the pins 38 provide a driving connection for driving the rotatable shaft 36 from the driven print Wheel, rotation of which is clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2.

Integral with the guide members 20 there is an upstanding hollow shaft 42 in which shaft 36 is rotatably guided, the shaft 42 preferably having a hub 44 at guide member 20 to house a thrust member or helical coil spring 46. This spring surrounds the shaft 36 having an upper end abutting an internal shoulder 43 of the hub 44 and a lower end abutting an external shoulder on the shaft 36. The upper end of the shaft 36 projects above the upper end of the hollow shaft 42 and a knob 52 is suitably fixed to the upper end of shaft 36 for convenience in manually rotating the shaft. 0n the upper end of the hollow shaft is formed a cam having a riser 54 and carried by a metal insert 56 of the knob 52 is a follower 58. It will be apparent that when the knob 52 and therefore the shaft 36 is rotated in the direction to retract the print plates 24, the follower 58 will move up the cam riser 54 to the higher land, as at 60 of the cam, and will raise shaft 36 vertically. This in turn will further compress spring 46 which acts to hold the shafts 36 and 44 against relative rotation during printing operation so as to oppose outward movement, by centrifugal force, of the now retracted print plates 24.

Preferably, the hollow shaft 42 is suitably journalled in a fixed support or sleeve 62 which may be suitably supported by a bracket 64 or by other suitable means.

In the operation of the printer, the printing plates 22 will be rotating counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2 and when the plates are in their outer or effective printing positions shown, the cam follower pins 38 will be against the leading end of the cam slots 4-9, with respect to the direction of rotation and the cam follower pin 58 will be in its lower position shown in FIG. 1. Thus, when the printing plates 22 are in their effective printing positions shown, the cam follower pins 38 provide a positive rotary connection between the printing plates 22 and the shaft 36 so that the latter is rotatably driven with the print d is plates; 6T0 retract the print plates 22 radially to their ineffective positions, the machine is stopped and thedriving connection through the pins 38 ,to the shaft 3-6 is not positive and there is a tendency for the centrifugal force generated by'a high speed printer to rotate the shaft by the axial said second-mentioned shaft axially relative to said hollow shaft, and a spring between said shafts and compressed movement of said second-mentioned shaft to restrain ,rotation of said second-mentioned shaft in a direction opposite to said one direction.

3, In a printer, a print wheel including spaced apart driven, plates, a printing platedisposed between and rotatably connecting said plates together, said printing plate guided by said driven platesfor selectable radial move- 36 clockwise which would move the print plates 22 radially y outwardly from the desired retracted positions. However, at the time of retr'actionof the plates 22 by rotation of shaft 36 clockwise, the upper cam follower 58 rides up the cam'54 which moves the shaft axially upwardly so as to further'compress the spring as, and this compression force is exerted against the enlarged end 56 of shaft 36. Thus, the compressed spring .46 restrains counterclockwise rotation of shaft 36 relative to the print plates, or provides a frictional drive connection therebetween-to oppose. outward movement of the print plates. f

From the foregoing description, it will now be appreciated that I have provided an improved composite print wheel structure for high speed printing or check endorsing operation. Further, it will be seen that I have pro-' vided a print wheel of a character-such thatit may-be set to print either a full endorsement and/or agpartial endorsement without need of'disassembling the device,

by merely rotating a knob. In addition, it will be appre ciated that rotation of the knob to retract the printplates ment relative thereto between an outer printing position and an inner ineffective retracted position, a hollow shaft carried'byone'of said driven plates, a second shaft coaxial with and within said hollow shaft, saidsccondrnentioned shaft having one end extending through said one plate proximate to said printing plate, a cam follower member carried by said printing plate, a cam carried by the one ,endof said second-mentioned shaft in-parallel offset relation thereto and engaging said cam, follower, said cam and cam follower cooperable to retract said printing plate upon rotation of said second-mentioned [shaftin one direction, a'compressible springinterposed f between and' urging saidsha fts in opposite axial directo ineffective position alsoapplies a holding force to pre-. vent outward movement of the print plates by thiecentrifugal force developed by the high speed printer.

While I have shown'and described my printing device in considerable detail, it will be understood that many vari ations and changes may be made without departing from V the spirit and scope of the. invention. a

I claim: I

1. Ina printer, a rotatable print wheel including a pair of spaced apart rotatably driven plates, aprinting plate interposed between said pair of plates and connected for rotation therewith, said printing plate movable radially of said pair of platesbetween an outer printing position and an inner ineffective retracted position, a hollowshaft carried by one of said plates, a second shaft within said hollow shaft coaxially thereof and having one .end proxisaid carrier and also being movable radially between tions, said second-mentioned. shaft axially movable away from said printing plate, a cam'member on-the other end of saidhollow shaft, and a cooperating .cam member on the other end of said second-mentioned shaft cooperable to compress said spring upon rotationof said second-mentionedshaft to oppose outward movement of the retracted printing plate. r

4. In aprinter, a rotatably driven carrier, a'printing plate carried by said carrier and having print elements thereon, said printing plate connected for rotation with an outer printing position and an ineffective retracted position, a rotatable shaft coaxial with the axis of said carrier and having one end disposed toward said printing plate, cam means on the said'one end of said shaft and on said printing plate cooperable to retract said printing plate upon rotation of said shaft in one direction, said shaft movable axially relative to said printing plate, means operable to move said shaft axially relative to said printing plate by rotating the shaftin said one direction, and a thrust rnemberbetween said shaft and said carrier, said mate said printing plate, said second: mentioned shaft bc- 7 ing rotatablerelative to said hollow shaft'and also axially movabletoward andaway from said printing plate, cam means on said printing plate having a sliding connection with cam means on said second mentioned shaft. and cooperable toretract said printing plate upon rotation of said second mentioned shaft in one direction, a cam on the other end of said hollow'shaft, a cam followercarried by said second-mentioned shaft and cooperable with said camto axially move said secondmentioned shaft upon rotation thereof in said one'direction, and a spring interposed axially between said shafts and compressible by and upon axial movement of said second-mentioned; I

shaftto restrain rotation of the latter in a direction op 1 positesaid one direction.

2. In a printer, a rotatably driven carrierpa printing plate carried by said carrier and movable radially between an outer printingposition and an ineffectiveretracted position, a hollow shaft coaxial and rotatable withsaid carrier, said hollow shaft having one end thereof overlying said printing plate, a rotatable shaft within and coaxial of said. hollowv shaft and having one end proximate said printing plate,-

cooperable to effect retraction of said printing plate upon rotation of said second-mentioned shaft in one direction cam'means on saidprinting plate and on the one end of. said second-mentioned shaft thrust member applied by the rotation of said shaft in said one direction relative to said printing plate to overcome the centrifugal force of said print wheel acting to move said print plateoutwardly.

.5. In. a printer, a rotatably driven carrier, a printing plate carried by said carriensaid printing plate connectec for rotation with said carrier and'movable relative theretc radially betweenan outer printing position and a retractec' ineffective position, alrotatable driven member coaxiai with said carrierjand movable: axially thereof, a driver connecting member. carried by said driven member, 2 driving connecting member carried by said printing plan and cooperable. witlrsaid driven connecting member tr rotate the latter in one direction only during the printin; operation, cam means coope'rable 'with' said connecting members and operable ,by rotation of said driven membe in a direction oppositesaid one direction to retract sai printing plate, a thrust member between and urging sair carrier and said rotatabledriven member in opposite direc trons ax ally of. said p'rinting plate, and cooperable can means. including a cami member carried by said cmrie nember and a cam follower carried by said rotatabl driven rneinber. operable upon rotation of said drive: member in said opposite directiontoincrease and appl the force of said thrust member to overcome the centrii ugal force on said retracted printing'plate.

6.. In a printer, a rotatably driven carrier, a printin plate carried by said carrier, means connecting said prin' ing plate to said carrier for rotation therewith, said prin ing plate'movably settable radially on said carrier betwee an outer printing position and an inner ineffective I'( 'tracted position, a shaft coaxial with the axis of said ca:

rier and having one end thereof proximate said printing plate, said shaft rotatable relative to said print plate and also axially movable relative thereto, cam means on said one end of said shaft slidably interconnected with cam means on said printing plate to move the latter radially by rotation of said shaft, a thrust member interposed between said shaft and said carrier to urge said shaft axially toward said printing plate, a cam follower carried by said shaft, and a cam carried by said carrier and cooperable with said cam follower, said cam follower and cam cooperable to move said shaft axially away from said printing plate and increase the thrust of said thrust member by the rotation of said shaft in a printing plate retracting direction.

7. In a printer, a rotatably driven carrier, a printing plate carried by said carrier for rotation therewith and also being movable radially to the carrier axis between an outer printing position and an inner ineffective retracted position, a rotatable shaft arranged with its axis of rotation concentric with the axis of rotation of said carrier and having one end disposed toward said printing plate, said shaft also mounted for axial movement toward and away from said printing plate, cam means on said one end of said shaft, cam follower means on said printing plate cooperable with said cam means to rotatably connect said shaft to said carrier, said shaft rotatable in one direction relative to said carrier to retract said printing plate and rotatable in the opposite direction relative to said carrier to move said printing plate to printing position, resilient thrust means between said shaft and said carrier, a cam rotatable with said carrier, and a cam follower carried by said shaft and engaging said cam, said cam follower cooperable with said cam upon rotation of said shaft in said one direction relative to said carrier to move said shaft axially and increase the thrust of said thrust means to restrain rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction.

8. In a printer, a rotatably driven carrier having a radial guideway, a printing plate rotatably carried by said carrier and movably settable along said guideway between an outer printing position and an ineffective retracted position, a rotatable shaft coaxial with the axis of said carrier and having one end thereof proximate said printing plate, said one end of said shaft operatively connected to said printing plate to effect retraction of said printing plate by rotation of said shaft in one direction and to effect movement of said printing plate to printing position by rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction, a cam on said carrier and extending around said shaft, a cam follower engaging said cam and carried by said shaft laterally of the shaft axis, said shaft movable axially by said cam and follower upon and by rotation of said shaft in said one direction, and a spring interposed between said carrier and said shaft restraining rotation of said shaft in said opposite direction and placed under compression by and upon movement of said printing plate to retracted position on rotation of said shaft in said one direction.

9. In a printer, a rotatably driven carrier, a printing plate carried by and rotatable with said carrier, said printing plat-e being movable radially of the axis of rotation of said carrier between an outer printing position and a retracted ineifective position, a shaft coaxial with the axis of rotation of said carrier and having one end disposed toward said carrier on the other side of said printing plate from said carrier, an arcuate cam slot in the said one end of said shaft eccentrically located with respect to the axis of rotation of said shaft, said cam slot having a leading end with respect to the direction of rotation of said carrier and having a trailing end with the leading end closer to the shaft axis than the trailing end, a pin carried by said printing plate in said slot and engaging the leading end thereof to drive said shaft when said printing plate is in printing position, said shaft rotatable relative to said carrier in a direction to move said leading end of the cam slot away from said pin to retract said printing plate, said shaft axially movable relative to said printing plate, a cam carried by and rotatable with said carrier, a cam follower on said shaft cooperable with said cam to move said shaft axially away from said printing plate by rotation of said shaft in said direction, and a coil spring interposed between said shaft and said carrier and compressed by the axial movement of said shaft to restrain rotation of the shaft in an opposite direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A PRINTER, A ROTATABLE PRINT WHEEL INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED APART ROTATABLY DRIVEN PLATES, A PRINTING PLATE INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF PLATES AND CONNECTED FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, SAID PRINTING PLAT MOVABLE RADIALLY OF SAID PAIR OF PLATES BETWEEN AN OUTER PRINTIN POSITION AND AN INNER INEFFECTIVE RETRACTED POSITION, A HOLLOW SHAFT CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID PLATES, A SECOND SHAFT WITHIN SAID HOLLOW SHAFT COAXIALLY THEREOF AND HAVING ONE END PROXIMATE SAID PRINTING PLATE, SAID SECOND MENTIONED SHAFT BEING ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO SAID HOLLOW SHAFT AND ALSO AXIALLY MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID PRINTING PLATE, CAM MEANS ON SAID PRINTING PLATE HAVING A SLIDING CONNECTION WITH CAM MEANS ON SAID SECOND MENTIONED SHAFT AND COOPERABLE TO RETRACT SAID PRINTING PLATE UPON ROTATION OF SAID SECOND MENTIONED SHAFT IN ONE DIRECTION, A CAM ON THE OTHER END OF SAID HOLLOW SHAFT, A CAM FOLLOWER CAR- 